Cong MLA threatens to quit Assembly on B'deshi migrants issue

Published: Monday, November 10, 2008, 17:05 [IST]

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Shillong, Nov 10 (UNI) Former Meghalaya Health and Family Welfare Minister and sitting Congress Legislator Sayeedulah Nongrum today said he would quit the Assembly if the State government could prove the presence of illegal Bangladeshi migrants in the plain belt of Garo Hills.

''I can assure you that in my area - the plain belt of Garo Hills - no Bangladeshi is present and if you can prove it, I will resign from the Assembly. This is my challenge to everyone,'' Mr Nongrum told the House.

The Congress Legislator, who became emotional on the issue, asked the government, ''Why only Bangladeshi Muslims are targeted, why other Hindu Bangladeshis are not being detected and sent back to their country.'' Mr Nongrum informed the House that even in the constituency of Chief Minister Donkupar Roy there are Hajongs and Garos who have come from Bangladesh.

''The government must detect these foreigners too irrespective of caste, creed and religion, then we will say yes the government is working and has some thought,'' he asserted.

Stating that the media has no right to brand those detained from Assam as Bangladeshi nationals, Mr Nongrum said, ''If so much Bangladeshis are being detected then why not push them back to Bangladesh instead of pushing them only to Byrnihat.'' He, however, urged the government to detect the real Bangladeshis instead of suspecting the local and Indian citizens and harass them because they belonged to certain community.

The Chief Minister made it clear that the government would not allow any illegal Bangladeshi migrants to settle in the state, irrespective of religion, caste and creed.

''We are not anti-Muslim and we will not discriminate against anyone because of his community,'' Mr Roy said.